Lumber stacking apparatus



Dec. 17, 1963 c. P. WILLIS 3,114,466

LUMBER STACKING APPARATUS Filed June 5, 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet l llllllflllllllllln H l I I I N E INVENTOR.

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United States Patent Filed June 5, 1962, Ser. No. 204L161 8 Claims. (Cl. 214--6) This invention relates to lumber stacking apparatus and has as its primary object the provision of a mechanical means for removing closely stacked lumber as delivered to a lumber yard, as for example, on a pallet, and restacking the lumber in spaced relation for kiln drying.

An additional object of the invention is the provision of such an apparatus which, when a board or other piece of lumber is slid slightly from its stacked position into contacting relationship with the apparatus will raise the end of the piece of lumber, automatically shift the piece into horizontal position, move the same progressively over a roller table, and position the same in an elevated location over stacking spacers, meanwhile supporting the lumber, so that the piece may be shifted from one end only, and lowered onto the spacers for kiln drying with a minimum of time, effort, and difficulty.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a device of this character which will completely obviate the necessity for an individual manually to lift the entire weight of the lumber, and thus reduce operator fatigue, as Well as materially reduce the number of men required for the restacking operation.

A further ob ect of the invention is the provision of such a device which may be readily adjusted, both horizontally and vertically, to accommodate different lengths, weights, and sizes of lumber, as well as to accommodate different heights of stacks as initially presented to the apparatus for restacking.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of a device of this character wherein the mechanically actuated elements are operated from a single source of power, and wherein certain elements move at different speeds.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of a device of this character which is sturdy and durable in construction, reliable and efficient in operation, and relatively simple to operate, and inexpensive to manufacture and utilize.

Still other objects reside in the combinations of elements arrangements of parts, and features of construction, all as will be more fully pointed out hereinafter, and shown in the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a top plan view of one form of apparatus constructed in accordance with the instant invention, showing a stack of lumber, as delivered to the yard, at one end thereof, and a stack of lumber as restacked in spaced relation for kiln drying, the two stacks being partially broken away.

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view of the device of FIGURE 1 taken substantially along the line 22 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is an end elevational view of the apparatus taken substantially along the line 3-3 of FIGURE 1 as viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows.

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 4-4 of FIGURE 2 as viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows.

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 55 of FIGURE 2 as viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows.

FIGURE 6 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 6-6 of FIGURE 2 as viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows.

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary enlarged view, partially 3,ii i-,--ihh Patented Dec 17, 1963 ice 2 in section, and partially in elevation, showing a constructional detail; and 2 FIGURE 8 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially along the line 88 of FIGURE 7 as viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawing.

As conducive to a clearer understanding of the instant invention, it may be pointed out that lumber, in the form of boards, beams, or the like, is customarily delivered to a yard for kiln drying in closely stacked relation, in order to save space, and is frequently delivered by means of forked lift trucks on pallets of a suitable size conveniently to be accommodated by the yard. I

Herctofore, it has been necessary to remove such lumber from the pallet by hand and stack it, usually on a second pallet in vertically and horizontally spaced position, to allow air space on all sides of the boards or other pieces of lumber prior to passing the material through a kiln for drying and curing.

This has usually required the services of a relatively large number of men, or alternatively, the consumption of an unduly long period of time to achieve the complete transfer, and has, of necessity required considerable manual effort on the part of the laborers in lifting a board or piece of lumber from one stack and positioning it on the second stack.

An important object 'of this invention is, therefore, materially to reduce the effort, time, and labor involved in such shifting of lumber from one pallet to another, as well as to provide means whereby the lumber may be shifted with a minimum of physical effort on the part of the operator or operators of the device.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings in detail, and more particularly to FIGURES 1 and 2, there is disclosed an illustrative embodiment of this invention, which includes a first frame, generally indicated at 10, for the lifting and transverse moving of individual boards or pieces, all as will be more fully described hereinafter, the frame 10 being adjustably connected also, and to be more fully described hereinafter, to a second frame generally indicated at 11 and comprising a roller transport table. A third frame, generally indicated at 12, is positioned at the end of roller table frame 11, and carries shiftable means for positioning and restacking the lumber in spaced relation.

A stack of lumber 14 is disclosed at the left hand or input side of the apparatus and positioned on a pallet '15 as delivered from a lift truck, in closely stacked relation.

Referring first to the frame 10, it will be seen that the same is comprised of a base 16 which carries on each side thereof a pair of vertical uprights l7 and 17a, each of which has telescopically fitted on the upper end thereof a tubular member 18 and 18a, the telescopic members being connected on each side of the apparatus by longitudinally extending plates 19, which plates are in turn connected by 'a transverse bar or rod 20. Suitable set screws 21 and 21a serve to hold telescopic members 18 and 18a in adjusted relation with respect to the uprights 1'7 and 17a.

Additional telescopic sleeves 22 and 22a are similarly connected at the opposite sides of the device by cross plates 23 and a transverse rod 24, the telescopic members 22 :and 22a being secured in position by set screws 25 and 25a, thus providing for a substantial variation in height of the apparatus in accordance with the height of the stack of lumber 14.

The upper portions of members 22 and 22a are connected by longitudinally extending cross pieces 26.

\The upper portion of the members 22 at their juncture with members 26 are connected by a shaft or axle 27, which carries at each end an idler sprocket 23. Simi- =3! larly, the lower portions of each member 18 are similarly connected by transverse axle which carries at an end a similar idler sprocket 3t), and at its other end a powered sprocket /1.

Similarly, the upper portions of the members 2211 are connected by a shaft or axle 31, while the lower portions of the members 13a are connected by a driven shaft 32. Upper and lower longitudinally extending rods 33 and 34 are fixedly secured to the members 22 and 22a on each side of the apparatus, and extend into sleeves 35 and 36, respectively, carried by the roller frame 11. Additional longitudinally extending sleeves 37 and 38 are also carried by the frame 11, and contain parallel rods 39 and 49. Each of the sleeves 35, 36, 37, and 35 is provided with an appropriate set screw 41, for securing the associated rods in adjusted longitudinal position relative to the sleeves. The rods 39 and 49 have fixedly secured thereto sleeves 42 and 4-3, respectively, the sleeves being con nected by vertically extending plates 44, each of which carries a stub axle 45, as best shown in FIGURE 4, the axles on each side carrying idler pulleys 46. One of the stub laxles 45 on one side carries an additional pulley 47 in the form of a sprocket, it being noted that both pulleys 4-6 and 47 are fixed to their respective shafts 45, so that rotation of the pulley 46 will in turn drive pulley 47. Pulley 47 is connected, when in its sprocket form by means of a chain 48 with a sprocket or pulley 49 which is in turn fixed to the axle 31.

Axle 31 carries a roller 59, for rotation therewith, the purpose of which will be more fully described hereinafter.

A pair of chains 51 extend about pulleys 28 and 30, sprockets 31a and 32!: carried by the axles 31 and 32, respectively, and sprockets 46, there being one chain on each side of the mechanism.

Chains 51 are driven by means of an electric or other suitable motor 52 which is provided with a pulley 53 which, through a belt 54, drives a pulley 55 which is connected to a standard gear reduction box 56, motor 52 being supported on a plate 57 which is attached to the adjacent frame members 18, and which comprises a part of a second plate 58 supported on legs 5% and a base 60, plate 58 carrying gear reduction box 56. From gear box 56 a shaft 61 extends, through a standard clutch mechanism 62 to an extending portion 63 of shaft 31, thus driving both of chains 51 simultaneously, and through sprocket 47, chain 48, and sprocket 49, roller 5t simultaneously, but at a slower speed.

Extending from parallel opposite points on each of chains 51 are lugs 65, between which extends a rigidly fixed bar or rod 66, from which extend a large number of sharp staggered lumber engaging teeth 67. The direction of travel of chains 51 is such that bar 67 moves upwardly adjacent the stack of lumber 14, so that when a single board or piece of lumber is pushed from the top of stack 14 towards the frame 10, it is engaged by the teeth 67 and lifted to the top of the pathof travel of rod or bar 66 and thence advanced forwardly until it rests on rubber covered roller 50.

During this operation the operator who has initially pushed a board, as shown in dotted lines at B, into engagement with teeth 67, may raise the far end of the board to an extent necessary to permit the forward end to engage roller 50 and be carried thereby, and guides the same until the far end E of the board or other piece of lumber extends over the roller transport table 11.

An intermediate support for each board is provided between roller 5% and roller transport table 11 and takes the form of a transversely extending horizontal bar or rod 70 which is carried by rods 71, which in turn extend into vertical sleeves 72 mounted on rods 33, the arrangement thus being such that the elevation of bar or rod 7 9 may be suitably adjusted in accordance with the height of the frames 10 and 11, to extend to a desired height to support the board, and serving particularly in the case of short boards to insure their guidance over the roller table 11. Set screws 73 serve to secure the support rods in adjusted position.

A shield 75 extends the full length of the front of frame 10 immediately behind the forward or upwardly extending flights of chains 51 to prevent the insertion of a board or piece of lumber to an extent to cause it to project beneath the frame 10, or the upper shaft or axle 27, and to limit the projection of the end thereof into engagement with but not beyond the teeth 67 of bar 66.

Referring now to the roller table 11, it will be seen that the same is comprised of a pair of front legs 89 which :are supported on bases 81, and which extend adjustably into tubular members 82, their position being fixed by means of set screws 83 or the like, and a pair of rear legs 8 mounted on bases 85, and extending into tubular members 86 to be held in place by set screws 87, the arrangement being substantially identical to the front legs. Longitudinally extending top frame members 88 and transversely extending top members 89 form a support for opposite angle irons 90 along the edges of table 11 and a series of intermediately positioned channel irons 91 equidistantly spaced across the top of the roller transport table. A plurality of free rollers 92 are positioned entirely across the top of roller transport table 11 and journalled between the adjacent uprights of channel members 91 and angle members 90, so that a substantially friction free transport surface is provided for the lumber as it is fed thereover by means of power driven roller 50.

Table 11 is also provided with longitudinally extending lower supporting members 93 and diagonally disposed reinforcing braces 94. The sleeves 35, 36, 37, and 38 are fixedly secured to the outer sides of tubular members 82, and additionally, to vertical depending supports 95 which are carried by the frame members 38. Sleeve 38 is fixedly secured along member 93.

By virtue of this arrangement it will thus be seen that the height of rollers 92 may be suitably adjusted to conform to the height of roller 50, that the supporting bar 70 may be similarly adjusted, and that the table 11 may be moved longitudinally relative to the frame 10, to an extent limited only by the length of the rods 33 and 34. It will also be seen that by movement of the rods 39 and it? within the tubes 37 and 33 the position of pulleys 46 and 47 may be suitably adjusted longitudinally to tension the chains 51 and 48 regardless of the height to which frame it) is adjusted by virtue of its telescopically arranged legs as previously described. After the machine is initially set, it will continue to function at its adjusted height, with the chains tensioned, until a variation in height is required by a different type of lumber.

The end E of the board B thus extends and is fed by means of roller 50 across the freely rotating rollers 92 to the far or rear end of roller transport table 11, at which time it is piled on a pallet 96 supported by legs or runners 97 in spaced relation, the individual boards or pieces of lumber B being extended longitudinally of the direction of movement thereof in spaced relation, as best shown in FIGURE 1, and the individual layers or rows thereof being separated vertically by suitable spacer members S which are manually positioned across each row of lumber or boards as it is completed.

Referring now in detail to the frame member 12, which is employed by a second handler for facilitating removal of boards or lumber from roller table 11, and suitably positioning them on pallet 96, the frame is comprised of a pair of oppositely disposed tubular uprights 109 mounted on bases 16 1 and reinforced and balanced by diagonally extending braces 102. Uprights 10'3 extend from each tubular member 16f) in telescopic relation and are held in adjusted position as to height by means of set screws 1434. A transverse bar extends across the top of uprights 103, and has rigidly secured thereto a channel member 106 which extends the full width thereof.

A pair of oppositely disposed oppositely opening 0- shaped frar-ies, generally indicate-:1 at m7, are supported from channel 106, the supporting means taking the form of vertically extending lugs 11% which are secured in top channel members 1119 of frames 1117, the members 1% carrying at their upper extremities plates 110 at each end of which is provided an axle 111 which supports oppositely disposed rollers 112. The rollers 112, as best shown in FIGURE 8, seat in channels formed by upwardly extending spaced portions 113 of channel members 1%, the flanges 113 defining tracks on opposite sides of a central channel 114 through which lugs 1118 extend.

Each C-shaped member is thus transversely movable the full width of the pallet 96. The members 197 also include vertically extending bight portions 115 and lower channel members 116 parallel to the channel members 1139. At each end of lower channel member 116 an upwardly extending plate 117 is provided in which is journalled one end of an axle 118 which supports a roller 119, the other end of the axle being suitably journalled in the bight portion 115, so that as a board B is fed or manually drawn from the end of roller table 11, it may be supported on a selected one of rollers 119, and moved to its position of alignment on pallet When the selected aligned position has been achieved, the board, or that portion thereof which is not resting on the end of the stack on pallet 95 is removed from the open end of the member 107 and lowered to position on the pallet. After a pallet 1% is filled, the frame 12 may be removed, if desired, so that the loaded pallet 96 may be picked up by a lift truck and transported to the kiln for drying. A new empty pallet is then positioned adjacent the end of roller transport table 11, and is ready for stacking from a loaded pallet 15.

From the foregoing it will now be seen that there is herein provided an improved lumber stacking apparatus, which accomplishes all the objects of this invention, and others, including many advantages of great practical utility and commercial importance.

As many embodiments may be made of this inventive concept, and as many modifications may be made of the embodiment hereinbefore shown and described, it is to be understood that all matter herein is to be interpreted merely as illustrative, and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

1. An apparatus for stacking lumber in spaced relation on a pallet for kiln drying comprising, in combination, a first frame comprising opposite pairs of vertical supports, connecting members between said vertical supports, upper and lower sprockets carried by each of said supports, a chain extending about the sprockets of each pair of supports, power means for driving said chains in unison, a lift bar extending transversely between chains, a feed roller extending between the upper sprockets of one vertical support of each pin driven by said power means, a second frame comprising a roller table formed of opposite pairs of vertical supports, connecting means for said last mentioned pairs of vertical supports, a plurality of idler rollers extending in longitudinal and transverse rows across the top of said table, telescopic means connecting said first and second frames, a pair of idler sprockets carried by said second frame on opposite sides thereof, one of said chains extending about each idler sprocket, means for linearly adjusting said last-mentioned sprockets relative to said first frame to tension said chains and a third frame, said third frame being linearly aligned with said first and second frames, said third frame including oppositely disposed uprights, a cross bar extending between said last-mentioned uprights and lumber support means supported by and transversely movable on said cross bar.

2. The structure of claim 1 wherein the uprights of each of said frames are telescopically adjustable for varying the height of said frames.

3. The structure of claim 1 wherein said lift bar comprises a metal rod provided with lumber engaging spikes.

4. The structure of claim 1 wherein said feed roller is connected by chain and sprocket means with a drive sprocket coaxially mounted with one of said idler sprockets, said drive sprocket being of greater diameter than said last-mentioned idler sprocket whereby said feed roller travels at an increased speed relative to the speed of said lift bar.

5. The structure of claim 1 wherein a shield is positioned between said first frame and said chains to preclude the insertion of lumber to an extent sufficient to preclude raising thereof by said lift bar.

6. The structure of claim 1 wherein said telescopic means connecting said first and second frames includes tubular members secured to said second frame on each side thereof and rods carried by said first frame on each side thereof exteriorly of said chains, set screw means holding said rods in adjusted relation in said tubular members, and a transverse support extending between the uppermost rod on each side providing an intermediate support for lumber moving from said first frame to said second frame.

7. The construction of claim 1 wherein said support means carried by said third frame comprise a pair of opposite opening C-shaped members, a channel carried to said tranverse bar extending the full width thereof, rollers movable in said channel, and means connecting said rollers to said C-shaped members.

8. The structure of claim 7 wherein the bottom leg of each C-shaped member carries a lumber supporting roller.

No references cited. 

1. AN APPARATUS FOR STACKING LUMBER IN SPACED RELATION ON A PALLET FOR KILN DRYING COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION, A FIRST FRAME COMPRISING OPPOSITE PAIRS OF VERTICAL SUPPORTS, CONNECTING MEMBERS BETWEEN SAID VERTICAL SUPPORTS, UPPER AND LOWER SPROCKETS CARRIED BY EACH OF SAID SUPPORTS, A CHAIN EXTENDING ABOUT THE SPROCKETS OF EACH PAIR OF SUPPORTS, POWER MEANS FOR DRIVING SAID CHAINS IN UNISON, A LIFT BAR EXTENDING TRANSVERSELY BETWEEN CHAINS, A FEED ROLLER EXTENDING BETWEEN THE UPPER SPROCKETS OF ONE VERTICAL SUPPORT OF EACH PIN DRIVEN BY SAID POWER MEANS, A SECOND FRAME COMPRISING A ROLLER TABLE FORMED OF OPPOSITE PAIRS OF VERTICAL SUPPORTS, CONNECTING MEANS FOR SAID LAST MENTIONED PAIRS OF VERTICAL SUPPORTS, A PLURALITY OF IDLER ROLLERS EXTENDING IN LONGITUDINAL AND TRANSVERSE ROWS ACROSS THE TOP OF SAID TABLE, TELESCOPIC MEANS CONNECTING SAID FIRST AND SECOND FRAMES, A PAIR OF IDLER SPROCKETS CARRIED BY SAID SECOND FRAME ON OPPOSITE SIDES THEREOF, ONE OF SAID CHAINS EXTENDING ABOUT EACH IDLER SPROCKET, MEANS FOR LINEARLY ADJUSTING SAID LAST-MENTIONED SPROCKETS RELATIVE TO SAID FIRST FRAME TO TENSION SAID CHAINS AND A THIRD FRAME, SAID THIRD FRAME BEING LINEARLY ALIGNED WITH SAID FIRST AND SECOND FRAMES, SAID THIRD FRAME INCLUDING OPPOSITELY DISPOSED UPRIGHTS, A CROSS BAR EXTENDING BETWEEN SAID LAST-MENTIONED UPRIGHTS AND LUMBER SUPPORT MEANS SUPPORTED BY AND TRANSVERSELY MOVABLE ON SAID CROSS BAR. 